hello everyone, Well here's when it started for me. On June 9th I noticed a small red spot on my outter arm that was itchy,not to concerned at the time. Well the next day(Wed) it was a little bigger so i get worried and look up Lyme and about the rash so i was keeping an eye on it .well that night i had a low fever.. Next day (Thurs) felt really out of it and flu like and rash got bigger, but it wasn't a bullseye, it was all red and hot to the touch.( I took some pics) That night i got another fever and it was higher than the night before and i was feeling pretty crappy.. So Friday i go to the Dr and she gives me Doxy for ten days. So i I took the doxy for a few days and fever went away but i was getting other symptoms My ankle was hurting my neck and i was coughing and feeling very tired and achy like the flu.. I went back to the Dr the following friday and she wants me to go to an infectious disease dr But i did get enough doxy for 30 days from her .. I have an appointment on the 29 of july w/ infect dr and i end my doxy on july 12th will be 30th day.

Will that be long enough to be on the Doxy? I keep seeing that you should be on for 2-3 months.. So i don't know what to do..Is it even worth going to an infectious disease Dr? Also, will it have been long enough to be off the abx to get tested for anitbodies??? What about co infections? It really knocked my for a loop when i first got sick.. Still feeling tired and out of it and other things too. I guess its still freaking me out some !!

It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. Infectious disease doctors are not usually the best to see unless they specialize in Lyme. Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.

It is my understanding the minimum treatment time for an infection caught within two weeks of the bite is six weeks of the proper dose antibiotic. The antibiotic kills the bacteria when they are reproducing which is estimated at four weeks. Six weeks of treatment will cover one growth cycle. If symptoms are still present, futher treatment is warranted. A longer infection needs longer treatment. Early infections are the easiest to cure. Getting the proper treatment now may reduce the chance of long-term complicatons. I cannot stress this enough.

What dose of Doxy are you taking? There are some important tips to know about it. Do not have any dairy, iron, or magnesium products within two hours of taking it, or it will not be absorbed properly. If it makes you nauseous, eat something substantial before taking it. What helped me most was to have a sandwich with some kind of protein (no dairy). Avoid sun exposure. You can get a severe burn even when wearing sunscreen. Do not lay down for at least an hour after taking it or you can ulcerate your esophagus. This is very painful. Drink a full glass of water when you take it for the same reason.

Are you aware of the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction (herx)? Often when people who have Lyme take antibiotics their symptoms get worse or they get new ones. When the antibiotics kill the bacteria, toxins are released making them feel sicker. Although it can vary individually, many people experience this at the beginning or change of treatment and every four weeks. During treatment it is important to document your symptoms daily. One way to do this is to list the main symptoms you have each day with a numerical rating of their severity from 1-10. Over time when you review this, you can see when your herxes occur and how you are responding to the meds.

It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdfHe is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. He discusses antibiotics and doses starting on page 18. I also recommend the books "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton M.D.

Rhonda, I would just be sure to call the Dr (or ER if it applies) if your fever spikes again or you feel a lot sicker. As ticker said, it could be a herx, but not knowing what your rash looks like, I'd still be very careful. If it was Rocky Mt, I would think you're in the clear having responded so well to abx, but I really don't know enough about it, just that it still is a very serious TBI.Lyme in NC in 1971? Suspect TBI: Fully engorged tick followed by high fever and tonsillitis. Follwed by , lumps on neck, chronic tonsillits w/ constant low grade to recurring high (104) fevers, severe unexplained neck stiffness and acute neck pain. Followed by tonsillectomy, urinary tract infections, miscarriage, appendicitis while pregant, chronic severe back pain. Followed by depression, mild anxiety, mitral valve prolapse, and hypglycemia. Was this a TBI??

Bit again couple of times, lyme suspect bite Mother's Day 2007. Bite, symptoms, lyme specific antibodies on the most lyme specific band of all = 39 IgG. Still awaiting appt w/ LLMD.